RETAINER INFORMATION
If you have reached the retainer phase of treatment, congratulations are in order!
It has taken some time, but your active phase of orthodontic treatment has been completed.
You will be entering the next phase of treatment called the Retention Phase. This is an extremely important part of your treatment and involves the wearing of a “retainer” and/or “lingual retaining wires”.
Here are some facts to help you understand and appreciate what this phase of treatment will involve:
Will the teeth stay in this position?
We do not expect your teeth to stay exactly as we placed them. Teeth are there to be used so it is important to understand that there will be some adaptive changes that will and must take place through the years. In particular, you may notice changes in the alignment of the lower front teeth. These are natural changes that can occur even in people who have not had orthodontic treatment.
Why retainers and bonded wires?
These appliances are used to help maintain the position of the teeth now that the braces have been removed. It is extremely important to wear your retainer as prescribed by your orthodontist!
The retainer is a removable appliance and is usually worn full time to start. After an appropriate amount of time, your orthodontist will inform you that nighttime wear will be sufficient to maintain the stability of your teeth.
The bonded retaining wires are placed on the inside of the lower and sometimes upper front teeth. As long as the wire is correctly attached to your teeth, it will hold them reasonably well. A great deal of research has proven that just as your face changes with age, so will your teeth. Lingual retaining wires are a bit of orthodontic “magic” and will nearly stop teeth shifting with age as long as they are maintained and cared for properly. To achieve this, the wire must be left in place and meticulously maintained for the rest of your life.
How long does this phase last?
You will attend a series of retention check appointments over the next 12 months, after which your treatment is considered complete, and you are discharged from retention recalls.
The appointments will be at approximately 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months and will average 10 minutes in length as long as the retainers are not lost or broken.
Fees:
The retention phase is included in the fees assigned to your contract.
If you lose or break your retainer, there will be a charge to replace it. This amount will be the current rate at the clinic.
When do I see my general dentist?
You should make an appointment as soon as possible after braces are removed to have a thorough checkup and cleaning. Fixed orthodontic appliances make oral hygiene more difficult to maintain and treatment may be required by your general dentist.
The Removable Retainer:
The retainer is a removable appliance carefully designed and fabricated to maintain the teeth in their correct positions. It is important it be worn according to the following instructions.
Follow closely the instructions you have been given on how to take the retainer in and out of your mouth.
Wear the retainer at all times, unless your orthodontist has specifically instructed you otherwise. The only exceptions are when eating, drinking (everything except water), playing sports (including swimming) or cleaning your teeth.
Clean your retainer by brushing with a drop of non-abrasive soap and cool water.
The plastic taste to the new appliance will disappear soon and in two or three days your speech will be completely normal with the appliance in place.
Your new retainer may make your teeth sore for a day or two. After an adjustment you may experience soreness. If you have a localized sore after three or four days, call the office so an adjustment can be made to the retainer.
The retainer may loosen after a week or two. If it becomes so loose that it will not stay in place, call the office for an appointment.
Avoid ‘flipping’ the retainer with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth.
When the retainer is left out for eating or playing sports, keep it in the container provided. Keep it out of reach of family pets, especially dogs.
NEVER wrap your retainer in paper napkin or tissue and lay it on the table or tray in a restaurant. Someone may throw it away. Do not put it in your pocket when playing or you may break or lose it. REMEMBER, there will be a fee to replace lost or broken retainers!
The Bonded Lingual Retaining Wire:
This is the wire that has been attached to the inside of your front teeth (upper, lower, or both). Be aware that you are responsible for the care and maintenance of these wires. Proper care includes:
Careful and thorough brushing and flossing. This must be done daily. In addition to brushing, it is essential that you floss between your teeth and into the gum areas below the wire. In order to do the best cleaning, most patients use a “floss threader” or “super floss”. When flossing, be careful not to push or pull too hard on the wire. This can bend or dislodge it and will cause your teeth to shift. Failure to clean your teeth carefully will result in dental disease.
If you are not certain how to clean around the wire, just ask, we will be happy to show you the correct methods.
Do not pick at the wire.
Do not bend the wire; unusually hard, sticky or brittle foods can bend or distort the wire and shift the teeth.
If the wire comes out, please save it. Contact our office, and bring it with you so that it can be replaced as soon as possible.
